Permaculture is a word originally coined in Australia by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the mid 1970's to describe an "integrated, evolving system of perennial or self-perpetuating plant and animal species useful to man".

A more current definition of permaculture, which reflects the expansion of focus is “Permaculture integrates people into Nature's design. A permaculture design provides us with shelter, food, water, income, community and aesthetic and spiritual fulfilment within a balanced and healthy biological community. Dan Hemenway

Permaculture has an ethical foundation based on:Earth Care caring for the Earth, keeping our human impact to a minimumPeople Care meeting people's needs in compassionate and simple waysFair Share taking what we need and sharing what we don’t

People, their buildings and the ways in which they organise themselves are central to permaculture. Thus the permaculture vision of permanent or sustainable agriculture has evolved to one of permanent or sustainable culture.

Permaculture principles

A range of principles underlie the design of land, space and virtual projects. Some of these are briefly described here.

• Zones: the placement of design elements for energy input required, the nearer the more attention can be given.• Sectors: natural influences /energy flows through a site such as sun, prevailing wind, frost pockets, ramblers etc., Micro climates • Networks: linking of elements within a design that are connected, ensuring efficient use of time, reducing the time needed to travel between them • Linking outputs (products and wastes) with inputs to reduce transport requirements as it ensures all materials are (re-)used on-site to their maximum benefit• Natural patterns: use of the patterns observed in nature for aesthetics and efficiency in systems • Wild soil: Minimising bare soil by methods such as mulching, minimal ploughing, green manures, perennial planting. • Maximise Diversity: inclusion of variety in every way: species, varieties, incomes streams, food• Multiple functions: every element in a design should have more than one function, to maximise efficiency.• Multiple elements: each function should be performed by multiple elements, to increase resilience of a system.• Edge: incorporating and appreciating more edge, the place between two (eco) systems which are more rich, diverse and resilient.• Stacking: use of multiple layers and vertical space, planning over time.• Minimum effort for maximum result• The problem is the solutions / Everything is a gift